Public procurements: No more paper filing!
The Ministry of Finance is moving towards all-out digitalization in the field of public procurements. Submissions via the filing of large files will be something of a distant past. A deadline has already been set: August 2023. Public procurements will be fully digitized from the launch of the call for tenders to the awarding of contracts, including the deposit of financial guarantees and this, within the framework of Ministerial Order No.
1982/21 dated December 14, 2021 relating to the digitalization of public procurements and financial guarantees. This piece of legislation is taken in application of decree No. 2.20.801 of April 14 of the same year modifying and supplementing the provisions of Article 148 of decree No. 2.12.349 and establishing the obligation to submit to calls for tenders via the electronic procedure and gradually before its generalization next August.
The Minister of Finance has just sent a note to this effect to the CEOs and presidents of the territorial administration, as well as to the General Managers and directors of public agencies and state-owned enterprises.
As a reminder, the ministerial order defines the procedures for receiving bids from competitors, opening bids, and evaluating them electronically. The piece of legislation also lays down the procedure relating to the maintenance and operation of the database of contractors, suppliers, and service providers, as well as the conditions for using electronic auctions, not to mention the digitization of financial guarantees.
The digitalization of all public procurement processes is part of the government’s digital transition strategy and aims to improve governance, simplify procedures, and strengthen transparency in the field of public procurements. Consequently, indicates the note from the Minister of Finance, public agencies and state-owned enterprises (list set by decree No. 3577-15) are also required to apply the provisions of the decree on digitization in accordance with the decrees concerning, in particular, Order No. 1982-21 on digital procedures for the award of public contracts and financial guarantees. Public agencies and state-owned enterprises with their own information system dedicated to markets are invited to apply the provisions of said decree pending the finalization and adoption of the reform in progress to comply with the provisions of Article 148 of Decree no. 2.12 .349. The note from the Minister of Finance invites state-owned enterprises to use the
www.marchespublics.gov.ma platform during all stages of public procurements. However, enterprises using an information system to manage electronic bids can continue to use it, by making sure to digitalize the financial guarantees in consultation with the Moroccan Bankers Trade Association (GPBM).o
Hassan EL ARIF
